Effort to change street names doesn't bear fruit

WESTON — Some dreamed of living on Tangelo Terrace or maybe Peachtree Way, yearning for a community with descriptive street names similar to those in the rest of Weston.

But for now, Fifth Street will remain Fifth Street in Bonaventure, an older Weston community annexed in 1997.

At the behest of residents, city commissioners were on the brink of approving a measure that would have transformed the streets of Bonaventure from plain numbers to fruity names. But the commission killed the plan late Monday after three dozen residents came out in opposition.

Opponents ridiculed the initial argument for the change -- paramedics and postal workers would be less likely to get lost in a neighborhood with named streets. If you're on Fifth and you want to get to Fourth, you know you've gone too far, they said; but if you're on Kiwi Court, you have no clue where to find Peachtree Way without consulting a map.

Critics also groused about the hassle of notifying bill collectors, insurance companies and other agencies of their address change.

"It will require too much effort and time and money to do this stupid change," 16-year resident David Chiu said to applause. "Most cities have numbered streets. Don't change the name."

Bonaventure resident Michelle Chin, who led the drive for named streets, said she was merely trying to improve her neighborhood.

"People don't like change," Chin, who moved to the area in 2003, said on Tuesday. "At the end of the day, it's preference. The majority won and you just have to walk away."

Commissioners were prepared to vote on the issue at their March 19 meeting, but delayed their decision until Monday, saying they wanted to hear from more residents. In deciding not to rename the streets, commissioners saved Weston taxpayers an estimated $15,000.

The issue could come up again, but not likely anytime soon, Mayor Eric Hersh said.

"The commission determined at this stage not to do anything," Hersh said. "We really did get an outcry overwhelmingly against it."

Chin first requested the new street names two years ago. In response, the city surveyed 240 residents on the issue. Only half of the 60 percent who responded supported a change.

Chin raised the issue again in 2006, this time armed with a petition signed by 163 out of 234 homeowners who said they favored named streets. But on Monday, some who signed the petition said they had changed their minds.

Chin said she has no plans to resurrect the proposal.

"I'm not doing this again," she said. "If I'm going to war, the people have to be with me."

Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7929.